Some home improvements can make a house safer for seniors

A few home improvements can make a house safe for seniors who want to continue living in their own homes as they get older.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, handheld showerheads and lever-handle faucets are easier to use at any age and grab bars are easily installed as long as the tub walls have adequate structural support. If the budget allows, installing a separate shower with a low-threshold entry and a shower bench is another safety measure for elderly homeowners.

"If our homes are designed with these principals in place, they are adaptable," interior designer Jeanette Knudsen, who owns Design for a Life Span in Mesa, Arizona.

Knudsen also recommended a very quick fix – using brighter lightbulbs and adding new lights to dark areas of the home to achieve visibility in all quarters.

Another light-brightening move in a home is the right choice of window treatments to bring in as much light as possible during the day. Horizontal fabric shades are a good choice because they have the look of a window shade, but the individual slats are reminiscent of a venetian blind. Daylight can be managed by controlling the angle of the slats, which can be closed for privacy at night.